Apple tree named ‘Co-op 33’

ABSTRACT

A new apple variety of distinguished by a small size fruit; resistance to apple scab; fruit having extremely crisp flesh and excellent flavor; and fruit that ripens in mid-September, but does not readily fall from the tree.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None.

Latin Name of the Genus and Species of the Plant Claimed:Malus×domestica.

Variety Denomination: ‘Co-op 33’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of appletree named ‘Co-op 33’. Our new tree resulted from a plannedhybridization program and is a selection from crossing ‘PCF2-134’ (aproprietary, unpatented apple tree) as the seed parent with ‘669 N.J.5’(a proprietary, unpatented apple tree) as the pollen parent. Theresulting tree was selected when growing in a cultivated area of PurdueUniversity in West Lafayette, Ind.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The ‘Co-op 33’ variety is distinguished from other apple varieties dueto the following unique combination of characteristics: resistance toapple scab; fruit has extremely crisp flesh and excellent flavor; fruitdoes not drop when ripe; small size; and ripens in mid-September, whengrown in Lafayette, Ind.

Asexual reproduction of this new variety has been accomplished bygrafting and budding onto rootstocks ‘Malling 7’ (unpatented) and‘Malling Merton 111’ (unpatented) rootstocks shows that the foregoingcharacteristics come true to form, are firmly fixed, and are establishedand transmitted through succeeding propagations.

The original tree and progeny have been observed growing in a cultivatedarea of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. Certaincharacteristics of this variety, such as growth and color, may changewith changing environmental conditions (e.g., light, temperature,moisture, nutrient availability, or other factors). Color descriptionsand other terminology are used in accordance with their ordinarydictionary descriptions, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.Color designations are made with reference to The Royal HorticulturalSociety (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying illustration shows typical fruit and leaf specimens ofthis new variety.

The colors of an illustration of this type may vary with lightingconditions and, therefore, color characteristics of this new varietyshould be determined with reference to the observations describedherein, rather than from this illustration alone.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of the ‘Co-op 33’ variety is based onobservations of asexually reproduced progeny. The observed progeny weretrees which were 17 years of age growing on ‘Malling 7’ rootstock inWest Lafayette, Ind.

Scientific name: Malus×domestica ‘Co-op 33’.

Parentage:

Seed parent.—‘PCF2-134’ (unpatented).

Pollen parent.—‘669 N.J. 5’ (unpatented), a variety that resulted from across between ‘Crandall’ (unpatented) and ‘PRI 14-226’ (unpatented).

Tree:

Vigor.—Moderate.

Overall shape.—Spreading.

Height.—From about 10 to about 12 feet.

Width.—Overall spread of about 12 feet.

Caliper.—About 5.8 inches at 15 inches above ground.

Trunk.—Stocky.

Trunk bark texture.—Rough and scaly.

Trunk bark color.—Grey (RHS 201A), with round to elongated lenticels,typical examples of which measured about 0.46 to about 0.64 inches. Thelenticels were green to grey-orange (RHS 143 to RHS 167D) in color.

Primary branches.—Spreading, emerging from the trunk at an angle ofabout 45 to about 55 degrees along the entire height of the tree.

Branch color.—Varies with age; observed one-year old branches weregrey-purple (RHS 183A) in color, while two-year old branches weregrey-brown (RHS 199B) in color.

Branch pubescence.—New wood exhibits branch pubescence, while older wooddoes not.

Branch lenticels.—Medium density (about 50 per square inch), oval, about0.04 inch long, white (RHS N155A) in color.

Bearing.—Annual bearing, though some tendency toward biennial bearinghas been observed if trees are over-cropped.

Hardiness.—Zone 5, comparable to ‘Golden Delicious’.

Disease and insect resistance.—Resistant to apple scab; moderatelyresistant to powdery mildew, fireblight, and frogeye leaf spot; slightlysusceptible to apple maggot; susceptible to cedar-apple rust.

Leaves:

Texture.—Smooth, Moderately thick.

Sheen.—Dull.

Length.—About 2.6 inches to about 3.8 inches, averaging about 3.1inches.

Width.—About 1.3 inch to about 1.8 inch, averaging about 1.6 inch.

Thickness.—About 0.004 inch to about 0.02 inch, averaging about 0.01inches.

Petiole.—Length of about 1.2 inch long and about 0.06 inch in diameter;yellow-green in color (RHS 146A), pubescent.

Margin.—Serrate.

Tip shape.—Acute.

Stipules.—Needle-shaped; two in number, with opposite arrangement;yellow-green (RHS 154B) in color; and 0.007 inch in diameter.

Leaf color.—Upper leaf surface: Yellow-green (RHS 147A). Lower leafsurface: Yellow-green (RHS 148A). Vein: Yellow-green (RHS 154A).

Pubescence.—Upper leaf surface is non-pubescent. Lower leaf surface hassome white pubescence. The length, width, thickness and othermeasurements were obtained from observations of ten typical leaves inSeptember of 2001.

Flowers:

Size.—Medium, approximately 46 to 51 mm in diameter.

Shape.—Ovoid to round.

Color.—Unopened bud: red-purple in color (RHS N57B to 62D). Openedflower: Petal color is white, (RHS N155A), on both sides.

Petals.—Five petals per flower; each petal is ovoid to round in shape,typically 17 to 24 mm long.

Bud length (expanded pink).—10.2 mm.

Bud diameter (tight pink).—7 mm.

Petal shape.—Base: slightly acuminate; Apex: rounded.

Stamen.—Twenty per flower; each stamen is 8 to 9 mm long and white incolor. Arranged in a single row.

Anthers.—Yellow-orange (RHS 17C) in color.

Pistil.—Stigma: About 10 mm long. Style: Five in number, fused at basefused; yellow-green (RHS 150D) in color.

Sepals.—About 7 mm long and 2 mm wide; recurved and not touching; green(RHS 142C) in color, tinged at tip with red purple (RHS 68B); pubescent.

Pollen.—Yellow-orange (RHS 17C) in color.

Fragrance.—Slight.

Pedicel:

Length.—18.0 mm.

Diameter.—1.5 mm. Color is green (RHS 142C).

Fruit: (Observations from a limited number of fruit in September of2001.).

Shape.—Round-oblate; symmetrical with a length to diameter ratio oftypically between 0.8 and 0.9; no ribbing and no lobes at calyx end.

Size.—Small, about 2.2 to 2.5 inches long and 2.6 to 2.9 inches indiameter.

Cavity.—Typically between 0.9 inch and 1.0 inch deep and between 0.35and 0.4 inch wide.

Basin.—Medium width and depth, typically between 0.4 and 0.45 inch deepand about 0.95 inch wide; pubescence on calyx.

Stem.—Medium length, typically of about 0.85 inch and about 0.08 inch indiameter; red-purple (RHS 61A) in color.

Locules.—Five, small, closed locules; seeds are free from the carpelwall at maturity.

Skin.—Thin and glossy, with no tendency to become waxy or oily instorage.

Lenticels.—Inconspicuous, round and red-purple (RHS 61C) in color.

General color effect.—Washed; green-yellow to yellow with a red-purpleover color. Ground color: Yellow-green (RHS 149), persisting in thebasin; ground color changes toward yellow during the time from first tolast picking. Overcolor: Red-purple (RHS 61A to 61B) with 90% to 100%coverage at maturity. Russet: No russeting observed.

Fruit characteristics at maturity (based on five fruit tested inSeptember of 2001 ).—Acid content: About 0.3 g/100 ml % malic acid.Firmness: About 7.5 kg to about 10.0 kg, averaging about 8.6 kg. Solublesolids: About 11.9% to about 12.6%, averaging about 12.3%. Starch index:On a scale of 1 (high starch) to 9 (low starch), range 8 to 9 starchindex. Flavor: Rich flavor, complex mixture of sweet and tart.Juiciness: Juicy. Flesh color: Yellow-white (RHS 158A). Aroma: Slight.

Core.—Basal bundle area shape. Width: About 0.87 inches. Length: About0.98 inches. Calyx tube: Closed and about 0.20 inches long. Core lines:Weakly defined.

Seed.—About 1 to 2 seeds per cell; acute shape, measuring about 0.34inches long and 0.19 inches wide; grey-orange (RHS 166A) in color.

Fruit production.—First picking date in 2001 was about September 12, andlast picking date was about September 18. Fruit hangs well on the treeand can be picked into October; average production is 160 lbs. of fruitper tree.

Keeping quality.—Fruit remains fresh for about two weeks at roomtemperature. Fruit in storage has been observed to maintain its qualityfor up to about two months in cold storage (34° F.). The maximum timethat fruit quality can be maintained in cold storage is unknown.

Usage.—Particularly good for eating; tree is suitable for homegardening.

Fruit weight.—(Based on a single fruit with a 2.9 inch diameter×2.5 inchheight tested in October 2002) 172 g.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree, substantially asherein shown and described.